The Barritts of the Fenlands - Page 12
Thomas Barritt, youngest son of Robert and Sophia Barritt
The birth of Thomas was never registered but he always said he was exactly five years younger than his brother John, so his birth would have been 21st January 1858. Sophia was then aged 44.
Thomas went to London when he was about 19 years of age and lived at Canning Town, near his brothers Banyard and John. He was employed at Tate and Lyles sugar refinery at Silvertown for 2 shillings per day.
At the age of 21 he married Mary Ann Wakeland on Christmas Day 1879 at the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Mary Street, Canning Town. She was the daughter of Samuel Wakeland, a carman of 2 Cedar Terrace, Trinity Street, Canning Town. It would seem that then Thomas became a carman and worked with or for his father-in-law.
Thomas and Mary Ann lived at No.1 Aviary Street, Canning Town where they had two sons, one of whom died in infancy and one daughter who did not marry. Through their only son who married Gladys Hamilton in 1903, they had 7 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren.
Thomas inherited his father-in-law's horse and cart business known as Wakeland's Ltd. One of the contracts was to remove waste products from Beckton Gas Works. During the 1920's the East Ham and Barking By-pass was being built and it was a short haul from the Gas Works to the new road where the waste was used as hard core for the foundations.
Thomas owned or rented a piece of land at Becontree Heath, Dagenham, known as Nanny Goat's Common, which he used as a rest place for his horses About once a fortnight he would ride in his pony and trap from Canning Town to Becontree with two of his work horses tethered behind, then return home with two which had rested on the common. Eventually the business changed from horses and carts to motorised transport.
Mary Ann died in 1912 and four years later Thomas married Emma Jane Cockburn who was about 18 years younger then he. When he retired they lived at 25 Sunningdale Avenue, Rainham, Essex, and Wakeland's Ltd was conducted by his son Thomas Wakeland Barritt.
Thomas and Emma adopted a baby girl, Joyce, who in 1944 married John Bentley, an actor. When Thomas died in 1948, aged 90, Emma lived with their adopted daughter Joyce Bentley at Blackpool. Thomas was buried in the City of London Cemetery, Manor Park.
By his will dated 25th April, 1942 he left his wife Emma Jane all the contents of their house at Rainham but "not any moneys or securities for money or title deed or evidence of title". She was to receive one third of the residue of moneys in his banking account, after funeral expenses and legacy of �20 to his nephew John Banyard Barritt had been paid. The other two thirds of the residue to his son and daughter-in-law. Emma to reside at their Rainham home, free of rent, she paying rates and taxes and to keep it in good repair, provided she is not absent from the premises for any continuous period of 6 months, when it becomes part of the residuary estate.
© Ron Barritt - March 1995